Refreshment booth and the like



July 23, 1929. J. L. MACOMBER REFRESHIENT BOOTH'AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 11,1926

J L. MAC'OMBER Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES- JAMES LOCKE MACOMBER, 0F D118 MOINES, IOWA.

REFRESHMENT BOOTH AND THE LIKE.

Application filed November 11, 1926.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement for a booth or the like at which a maximum number of people may be seated and served in a very limited space.

A further object is to provide an improved booth, having spaced seats with a table arranged between them, in such a manner that a portion of the table may be folded back to permit entrance to the seats, after which the table is extended and forms a closure for the entrance to the booth.

A further object of the invention is to provide means connected with the foldable portion of the table for indicating that the table is extended and consequently, the fact of the occupancy of the booth.

\Vith these and other objects in view, my

invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements here inafter set forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which I Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, showing a double booth constructed in accordance with my invention, the table of one of the booths being shown in extended position and that of the other booth being shown in folded position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2.2 of Fig. 1, the table being shown in folded position and its extended position being indicated by dotted lines, and including a diagram of the electrical connections.

Fig. 3 is a front view of one unit of the booth, partly in cross section, the table being shown in extended position.

I have employed the numeral 10 to designate a rear wall, which may be of any desired height and length and in this instance is shown of considerable length so as to form the wall for a plurality of booths. Each booth, in addition to the rear wall 10, is composed of or includes a pair of seats or benches which are designated by the numerals 11 and 12, these seats or benches being spaced apart and facing each other within the booth. The backs of the seats or benches 11 and 12 may be of considerable height so that they form, in whole or inpart, the side walls of the booths or the partitions between adjacent booths of a series such as indicated in Fig. 1. The front end or wall of the booth is formed by end members 13 and 14 of the respective benches 11 and 12,

Serial No. 147,704.

which end members preferably are of about the same width as the benches and of the same height as the backs thereof, and are spaced apart just enough to permit the entrance of a person to the space between the benches or in other words, to the booth. It is obvious that other structural elements may be provided for inclosing the booths, or they may be located within a building, but the parts referred to in detail are the elements which make up the booths and provide means for more or less privacy for those who wish to partake of refreshments in small groups, although it is obvious that the benches may be made of any desired length.

The forward margins of the benches 11 and 12 of each booth are relatively close together, the spacing being just sufiicient to permit the mounting of a narrow table be tween the benches. The table of each booth preferably consists of a narrow board 15 horizontally arranged between the benches and at a suitable height and supported by a pair of legs 16 and 17 near its ends. The board or table top 15 is arranged longitudinally between the 'abenches and extends from the rear wall 10 to a point spaced from the entrance to the booth, that is from the vertical plane of the end members 13 and 14:, a distance sufficient to permit the entrance of a person through the opening between said end members, to the space between the benches, after which they may take their seats on the benches. A foldable member or leaf 18 is provided which is of the same width as the table top 15 and adapted to be arranged in the same horizontal plane attimes and extended from the forward end of said table top toward and approximately to the "ertical plane of the end members 13 and 14;. hen so extended, the leaf 18 provides an extension for the table so that the table occupies substantially the entire length of the booth, and also provides an effective closure for the entrance to the booth and prevents the passage of a person to or from the booth while it is in such extended position. the outer .end of the table top 15 by means of hinges 19, and is adapted at times to be swung through an arc of 180 and occupy a position upon the end portion of said table top as shown in the lower portion of Fig. 1. and in Fig. 2 by full lines. A bracket or stop member 20 is attached to the lower side The leaf 18 is pivotally attached to of the hinged leaf 18 and is adapted to engage the outer face of the leg or post 17 when the leaf is moved to extended position, for the purpose of sustaining said leaf in a horizontal plane, as shown particularly by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. V

This arrangement provides for economy of space in seating persons for serving refreshments or the like, as a maximum number of people may be seated in such a booth without any waste of space. It also insures a considerable degree of privacy while in the booth and prevents the promiscuous entering or leaving of the booth during service. The occupants of the booth may be served by waiters through the spaces between the end members 13 and 14: and above the extended. table leaf 18.

It also may be desirable at times to provide automatic means for indicating when each booth is occupied, for the convenience of the management or of the customers. For this purpose an annuneiator 21 is pro vided for each of the booths which indicator may consist of an electric lamp, suitably located and normally in open circuit through conductors 22 and 23, with a source of electric energy 2%. The conductors 22 and 23 of each circuit extend within the corresponding booth, and a switch 25 is located at the outer end of the stationary table top 15 and is adapted to be closed by contact of the movable member 18 when the latter is swung to extended position. This establishes a circuit and operates the annunciator 21 so that visible anouncement is made indicating the'occupancy of the booth in ques tion. The booths and their respective annunciators may be provided With any suitable numbers, letters or other distinguishing indicia.

I claim as my invention:

1. A refreshment booth or the like comprising a rigid rear wall, a pair of opposed benches relatively close together and extending outwardly from said rear Wall a relatively narrow table member arranged between the benches and extending toward the open ends thereof, and a movable table member of the same width as and hinged to the outer end of the stationary table member on a transverse line, said movable member being adapted at times to be superposed upon the stationary table member to permit access to the booth and to permit persons to enter the spaces between said table member and each of said benches and then to be swung outwardly through an arc to provide an extension for the table and a closure for the space between the benches.

2. A structure of the character described comprising a pair of parallel benches, a rigid rear wall at one end thereof, a table member parallel with and between said benches and normally extending, substantially the full lengththereof, and a front wall formed of members extending above the horizontal plane of said table member and formed with an entrance opening, said table member being formed with a portion at one end hinged on atransverse axis and adapted to be folded bacx to permit passage through said entrance to both sides of said table member, said hinged portion when extended projecting substantially to the vertical plane of said front wall for forming a closure for said entrance opening.

JAMES LOCKE MACOMBER. 

